Cigarette-machine.



PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

w. T. GOALTER. CIGARETTE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17. 1896.

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mmiw 5 chum co. Pucm-Lmwcmwsas w PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

W. T GOALTER. CIGARETTE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG l7.1896.

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r A J PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

jhwzm 432w UNITED srarns PATENT OFFICE.

THE AMERICAN CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TOBACCO OOMPA NY, OF

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A

CIGARETTE-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Application filed August 17,1896. Serial No. 602,945.

.T!) all w/tom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. OOALTER, a citizen of the United States,I residing at Barton Heights, county of Henrico, and State of Virginia,have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Cigarette-Machines,fully described and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to that class of cigarette-machines in which thewrapper in the form of a continuous web is wrapped around a continuousfiller and itsedges united to form a continuous cigarette-rod, afterwhich this rod is cut into suitable lengths to form cigarettes.

I/Vhile certain features of the invention are applicable also tocigarette machines in which the edges of the wrapper are secured bypasting, the invention relates especially to that class ofcigarette-machines in which the wrapper-seam is formed by bringing theopposite edges of the wrapper into suitable engagement with each otherand incorporating them together by indenting or perforating to form whatis known as a crimped seam, and all the features of the inventiontherefore will be illustrated and described in connection with such amachine.

One feature of the invention relates to the construction of the formerthrough which the tobacco filler and wrapper are carried by the belt tothewrapper-folding and seam-closing devices. In my improved constructionI extend the former rearward for a considerable distance from theresser-roller, which is preferably used ontop of the filler behind thewrapperfolding devices, and provide the former with side walls inclinedtoward each other so as to form a gradually-contracting channel by whichthe filler and edges of the wrapper are gradually brought to thehorizontal dimensions of the cigarette, avoiding any sharp bend of thewrapper, and the extended continuous graduallyconverging wrapper andbelt-guides of the former hold the filler and wrapper steady, preventthe wrapper from running high and low, and give more room for adjustingthe belt. WVith this gradually-converging former and guides carriedthereby, moreover, the operator is enabled to run the wrapper through byoperating the belt by hand in case of a breakage in gradually it moldsthe filler gradually until the latter reaches the presser-roller andkeeps the tobacco pressed so firmly that it avoids to a great extent thedifficulty with previous constructions that the tobacco gets into thegroove of the wrapper-guide afterleaving the mouthpiece and tears thepaper, causing a choke in the machine and necessitating stopping thelatter for cleaning out the channel and starting the paper again. I alsopreferably form the wrapper-guides so as to aid in avoiding thisdifficulty by inclining them slightly and gradually from the rear to thefront end of the former, so as to widen slightly the grooves in whichthe wrapper edges run, with the result that any smallfibers of'tobaccothat may get into these grooves at or near the mouthpiece, where this ismost likely to occur, will tend to run out of the grooves as they widenor will not cause a choke or tearing of the wrapper on account of thegreater space in the grooves and freer movement of the wrapper.

With the extended former having its side walls inclined so as to form agradually-contracting channel the mouthpiece may be made quite short,and the bending of the edges of the wrapper and belt is performedlargely by the gradually-contracting guides in my improved former. theformer are preferably put in at an angle, being inclined inward at therear end of the former and this incline being gradually reduced, so asto bring the edges of the wrapper gradually to vertical position, so asto avoid any sharp bend of the edges of the wrapper as they pass fromthe mouthpiece into the former, and thus avoid danger of tearing thewrapper, these inclined guides thus forming substantial continuations ofthe surfaces on which the edges of the wrapper are supported in themouthpiece. The wrapper-guides may be similarly inclined also, so as tocorrespond in form with the belt-guides, so as to avoid any substantialchange of angle of these guides The belt-guides inbetween the mouthpieceand former; but this form of the wrapper-guides is less important and inmany cases will not be necessary, this depending somewhat on the form ofthe mouthpiece.

Another feature of the invention relates to means for giving a positivemotion to the tobacco filler and wrapper as they approach thewrapper-folding and seam-closing devices, so as to avoid dragging orslowing up of the tobacco-filler at this point. In this class ofmachines the tobacco-filler is liable to run irregularly at the groovedpresser-roller used behind the wrapper-folding and seam-closing devices,which is caused to some extent by irregularity in the feeding of thetobacco, so that the filler is larger at some places than at others, andin part by the dragging of the filler caused by its compression in beingcarried under the support inside the wrapper, previously referred to asforming part of the seam-closing devices. The result is that there isliability to choking of the machine at or beyond the presser-roller andthe cigarettes are not perfectly uniform, and in case the wrapper-stripis printed either in the machine or previously, as usual in cigarette'manufacture, the print will not come at the same point on all thecigarettes, as is desirable. For the purpose of avoiding thesedifficulties I use positive feeding devices engaging the belt andfiller, so as to aid in securing the uniform feed of the latter inpassing under the support, this means preferably consisting of feedingdevices, such as a grooved chain or wheel below the belt, and

.driven at the same rate of speed as and coacting with thepresser-roller, so as to give a positive motion to the tobacco fillerand wrapper at this point and prevent any dragging of the filler orwrapper. I preferably use an endless-chain construction, as this enablesme to conveniently and efficiently continue the hold uponthe lower sideof the belt from the presser-roller as far as may be found requisite forsecuring the best action, so that this hold upon the belt may bemaintained beneath the support and until the seam is closed, if desired.

For a full understanding of the invention a detailed description of aconstruction embodying all the features of the same in their preferredform as applied to a crimped-seam continuous-rod cigarette-machine willnow be given in connection with the machine shown in the drawings,forming a part of this specification, and the features forming theinvention then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of acigarette-machine as is necessary to illustrate the invention. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the same with the devices for feeding the tobacco to themouthpiece omitted. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the fillerforming andwrapper-folding and seam-closing devices with the top portion of themouthpiece and top filler-pressing tongue removed. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section on the line 4 of Fig. 2. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9are crosssections looking to the left on, respectively, the lines 5, 6,7, 8, and 9 of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a crosssection on the line 10 of Fig.2, showing the compressing-tube. Fig. 11 is a par tial section similarto Fig. i, but on a larger scale, showing the preferred construction ofmy improved feeding devices for the filler and wrapper. Fig. 12 is across-section of the same on the line 12 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, A is the frame, on which the various devicesare mounted, which frame may be of any suitable form. On this frame ismounted the former B, pro viding the channel through which thewrapper-strip :20 and filler y are carried by the belt a, beneath theroll 0, which is shown as corresponding to the grooved presser-roll ofthe machines now in use, and past the interior support b andwrapper-folding guides D, by which the edges of the wrapper are foldedtogether, to the external crimping-wheel E, coacting with the roller 10,carried by the interior support b to indent or perforate the edges ofthe wrapper together to form what is known as a crimped seam, and fromwhich the continuous cigarette-rod, with its seam thus closed, passeswith the belt through the compressing-tube F, by which the cigarette-rodis compressed to its final form, so as to be delivered in firm conditionand of exact shape, the machine, as shown, being constructed to producea cylindrical cigarette. It will be understood, however, that thiscompressingtube or other means used for the same pur pose will be formedin accordance with the shape of the cigarette to be produced. Thewrapper passes to the belt through a printing device X, showndiagrammatically and which may be of any suitable form, and over awrapper support or roll 11, and the belt a passes over the rear beltsupport or roll 12 through the former and from the compressing-tube Freturns around belt-driving roll 13 and guide-roll 14. The interiorsupport 6 and wrapper-folding and seam-closing devices andthe means forsupporting and driving these parts may be of any suitable form and areshown as of a form now well known, so that no further descriptionthereof need be given.

The tobacco for the filler is fed to the former through a mouthpiece G,through which the wrapper a: and a belt a run, and the tobacco may befed by any suitable tobacco-feeding means, that shown consisting of abottom belt H, running on a large belt-r0111 and side wheels K and a topwheel L, as in the now well-known Bonsack machine, the mouthpiece Grbeing provided with the usual scraper 15, which takes the tobacco fromthe belt H,

and the tobacco passing between the side guides 16 to the body of themouthpiece, as in constructions now well known.

Referring now to the special construction of the former B, in whichcertain features of the invention are embodied, the former B ispreferably made of two superposed plates 17 18, these plates beingprovided with downwardly-extending flanges 0 (Z, forming, respectively,belt and Wrapper guides, this twoplate construction being now wellknown. In constructions heretofore in use, however, this former and thechannel therein have extended rearward in substantially straight lines,so as to form only a comparatively short straight channel behind thepresserroller C, and both the belt and wrapper guides 0 (Z have beenstraight, forming guiding-surfaces vertical throughout the length of theformer. In my improved construction these plates extend rearward aconsiderable distance from the roller C and are tapered inward fromtheir rear end, so as to form inclined side walls, producing agradually-contracting channel in the former extending from its rear end,so that the wrapper and belt are thus gradually curved and the fillermolded by continuous gradually-inclined walls, avoiding any sharp bendof the wrapper or belt, as in passing from the mouthpiece to thestraight former now in use. The belt guides or flanges c on the lowerplate 17 also are preferably inclined or curved inwardly toward thebottom of the channel, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 6, and 7, thesecurved or inclined flanges forming substantial continuations on the sameangle of the wrapper-guiding surfaces of the mouthpiece, so that thereis no sharp bend of the wrapper in passing from the mouthpiece to theformer. These guides c gradually change to a vertical position, asshown, so that the belt and wrapper edges are gradually brought tovertical posi tion in the former and any sharp bend avoid ed. Thewrapper guides or flanges d may also be inclined or curved similarly totheguides c for a short distance from the rear end of the former, asshown 1n Fig. 6; but, as above stated, this is less important. Ireferably, also, make the distance between t ese wrapper-guides d andthe inner side of the plate 17 increase slightly from the rear end ofthe former, so that the width of the wrappergrooves increase slightlyand gradually in order that any fine particles of tobacco that may getinto these grooves will more readily run out as the grooves widen andnot interfere with the run of the wrapper. This feature is illustratedin Figs. 6 and 7, the wrapper-grooves being shown wider in the latterfigure than in the former.

While the former has been shown as made of the two superposed plates 1718 and the belt and wrapper guides c d as formed by flanges on theseplates and this in the preferred construction, it will be understoodthat this part of my invention is not to be limited to such preferredconstruction.

With the gradually-contracting channel in the former B produced by theinclined side walls, as above described, is preferably used an inclinedtop filler molding-tongue M, which is shown as carried by the mouthpieceG, this being the preferred construction, although the tongue may bemounted in any other suitable manner, this tongue M preferably extendingforward to, or nearly to, the rollerC or substantially the same pointwhen this roller is not used and acting to gradually press down thetobacco against the wrapper and belt and gradually mold the tobacco toform a filler of the proper size and secure the other advantages abovepointed out. While this tongue is preferably used, however, it will beunderstood that it may be omitted and the other features of theinvention used without it.

At the rear end of the former B is mounted the mouthpiece G, thismouthpiece preferably being formed in two parts, as shown, a bottom 19,fixed to the frame of the machine and having side wrapper-guides d,forming rearward extensions of the wrapper guides or flanges d of theformer B, and a top part 20, which is preferably made readily detachablefrom the machine, especially in case the tongue M is carried thereby, asshown, so that access to the filler within the former B may quickly andconveniently be secured. This top part 20 is shown as secured to thebottom 19 by spring-flanges 8, (see Fig. 5,) which hold the two partstogether with sufficient firmness for the operation of the machine,while at the same time permitting the top part 20 with the tongue M,carried thereby, to be readily detached. This upper part 20 of themouthpiece G has a bottom plate 2, upon which the tobacco to form thefiller 1 is fed in out of contact with the wrapper a: and side walls 3,forming a trough within which the tobacco lies, this trough being openat the top, so that the tobacco may readily be reached by the operatorup to the point when it passes beneath the tongue M, and, as aboveexplained, by removing the top part 20 of the mouthpiece the tobacco maywhen necessary readily be reached between the mouthpiece and thepresser-roller C. It will be seen that the plate 2, forming the bottomof the top part 20 of the mouthpiece G and over which the tobacco is fedto the former, extends over the Wrapper in advance of the belt-support12, so that the wrapper is directly supported by the belt at the timethe filler is brought into contact with it and by the open top of themouthpiece the tobacco may conveniently be examined and its propercondition assured before it is allowed to pass onto the Wrapper, thusavoiding the danger of tearing the latter in pinching off or otherwisehandling the tobacco while upon the wrapper and the latter unsupportedby the belt.

Referring now to my improved feeding devices for giving a positivemotion to the tobacco-filler as it approaches'the wrapper-fold ing andseam-closing devices, these feeding devices are formed in theconstruction shown in the general views and Fig. 8 of a groovedfeeding-roll P, engaging the lower surface of the belt a through anopening in the bottom of the former B and coacting with the groovedroller C on top of the filler, which may, as shown, correspond ingeneral to the presserroller of the machines now in use. These tworollers C P coact, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, to grip the filler y withthe wrapper 0c and the belt a and assure the positive and uniform motionof the filler and wrapper with the belt. These feeding-rollers may bedriven in any suitable manner; but the upper roll 0 is shown as drivenfrom the roll 13 through intermediates 21, as in the case of the corresponding presser-roller now in use in such machines, and the shafts ofthe two feedingrolls C P are geared together by gears 22, so as to moveat the same surface speed. In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown aconstruction employing a grooved chain or belt in place of the lowerroller P, this chain or belt being arranged so as to coact with theroller C at its rear end, but preferably extends forward from thisroller, as shown, so as to engage the belt and aid in carrying thefiller and wrapper beneath the support B and to or beyond theseam-closing devices. In the construction shown inthese figures a linkedchain Q is used, having the outer surface of its links curved to receivethe belt and wrapper, as shown in Fig. 12, and driven by a sprocketwheel 23 at its forward end, with a supporting-roll 24 at its rear endbeneath the roller C, the sprocket-wheel 23 being driven from the studof the large intermediate 21 through a gear 25 on the stud meshing withgear 26 on the shaft of the sprocket-wheel. While the constructionshown, employing but a single roller above the belt, will be foundefficient for the purpose, either with feeding-roll P or the chain orbelt Q below the feedingbelt a, it will be understood that suitablefeeding devices may be used above the filler coacting with the roll P orchain Q, and that various forms of feeding devices may be used in placeof those shown by me as the preferred form of embodiment of myinvention.

The tube F, formed of a metal plate bent into cylindrical or otherdesired form, with its longitudinal edges preferably slightly separatedover the line of travel of the seam of the cigarette-rod, as shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 10, I consider the preferred construction for thepurpose for which it is used, as such a tube may'readily be changed insize by opening or closing it so as to properly handle the cigarette-rodunder different conditions of the tobacco or cigarette-rods of differentsizes or forms. The purpose for which this tube F is used will nowbedescribed more in detail. In making a crimping-seam in a cigarette-rodwith mechanism such as that heretofore described, including an externalcrimping-wheel E and an internal support I), the tobacco is compressedby the internal sup port, so that as it passes the latter it does notcompletely fill the wrapper. The natural expansion of the tobacco hasbeen relied upon to fill the wrapper, and thus correct theirregularities in the form or disposition of the filler produced by thesupport inside the wrapper; but it has been found in practice thatcigarettes of exact form with the tobacco completely and evenly fillingthe wrapper are not secured. This difiiculty is avoided, however, by theprovision of the tube F, which is located beyond the seam-inclosingdevices and by which the cigarette-rod is compressed to correct theirregularities thus produced, the cigarettes delivered being thus ofexact form, with the tobacco properly filling the wrapper, so that theycan be safely handled with the cigarette catching and packing devicesnow in use.

It will be understood that the seam maybe secured by other suitablemeans than that shown, many of which are now well known, and that theterm crimped seam used in some of the claims is intended to cover allforms of such seams whether the machine acts by pressing, crimping,indenting, corrugating, or perforating the edges together. It will beunderstood also that many of the features of my invention may be usedwithout the others and in machines of other form than that shown andthat my invention is not limited to the exact form of any of the devicesshown as the preferred embodiment of the respective features of theinvention, but that man modifications maybe made therein while retainingthe invention.

What I claim is 1. In a cigarette-machine, the belt-guides 0 extendingand inclined downwardly toward each other at the rear end of the formerand gradually changing to vertical position, substantially as described.

2. Former B having its side walls inclined to form agradually-contracting channel and having the belt-guides c andwrapper-guides 11 extending along the side walls of the former andinclined downwardly toward each other at the rear end of the former andgradually changing to vertical position, substantially as described.

3. In a cigarette-machine of the class described having a tubulartobacco-receiving means, wrapper guides inclined to form grooves forreceiving the edges of the wrapper, said grooves increasing a formerhaving along the former gradually in width in the direction of movementof the wrapper, substantially as described.

4. Former B having the inclined side walls forming agradually-contracting channel and having the wrapper-guides d inclinedto form wrapper grooves increasing gradually in width in the directionof movement of the wrapper, substantially as described.

5. Former B having the inclined side walls forming agradually-contracting channel and having the wrapper-guides d inclinedto form wrapper grooves increasing gradually in width in the directionof movement of the wrapper, in combination with the top fillermoldingtongue M, substantially as described.

6. In a cigarette machine of the class described having a tubulartobacco-receiving means, wrapper guides inclined to form grooves forreceiving the edges of the wrapper, said grooves increasing gradually inwidth in the direction of movement of the wrapper, in combination with afillermolding tongue, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the wrapper-folding and seam-closing devices ofa continuousrod crimped-seam cigarette-machine, of a presser-rollerabove the filler adjacent to and behind the wrapper-folding devices, andthe inclined top filler-molding tongue rearward of and adjacent to thepresser-roller, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the wrapper-folding and seam-closing devices ofa continuousrod crimped-seam cigarette-machine, of a former providedwith inclined side walls forming a gradually-contracting channel, aresser-roller adjacent to and behind the wrapper-folding devices, and aninclined top filler-molding tongue rearward of and adjacent to thepresser-roller, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a former having inclined side walls forming agradually-contracting channel with wrapper and belt guides extendingthrough the channel, of a mouthpiece having a bottom over which thetobacco is fed in out of contact with the wrapper, and an inclined topfiller-molding tongue, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the filler forming and wrapping devices of acigarette-machine, and a belt carrying the filler and wrapper, offeeding devices engaging the filler and belt and driven by means otherthan. the belt for securing the movement of the filler with the belt tothe wrapping devices, substantially as described.

11. The combination with the filler-forming and wrapper-folding devicesof a cigarette-machine, of a support within the wrapper, means coactingwith said support to secure the edges of the wrapper into a seam, a beltcarrying the filler and wrapper, and feeding devices engaging the fillerand belt adjacent to and behind the support for securing the movement ofthe filler with the belt beneath the support, substantially asdescribed.

12. The combination with the filler forming and wrapping devices of acigarette-machine, and a belt carrying the filler and wrapper, of afeeding-roll above the filler, and feedmg devices driven by means otherthan the belt and engaging the belt and coacting with the roll to securethe movement of the filler with the belt to the wrapping devices,substantially as described.

13. The combination with the filler forming and wrapping devices of acigarette-machine and a belt carrying the filler and wrapper, offeedingdevices for securing the movement of the filler with the belt tothe wrapping devices, said feeding devices including a feeding belt orchain engaging the wrapperbelt and moving therewith to the wrappingdevices, substantially as described.

14. The combination with the filler forming and wrapping devices of acigarette-machine, printing devices for the wrapper, and a belt carryingthe filler and wrapper, of feeding devices engaging the filler and beltand driven by means other than the belt for se curing the movement ofthe filler with the belt to the wrapping devices, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM T. COALTER.

Witnesses:

O. J. SAWYER, T. F. KEI-IoE.

